Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Wageningen Bio-Veterinary Research, Wageningen University and Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
Poult Sci. 2023 Mar;102(3):102448. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102448. Epub 2022 Dec 21.
Alternative hatching systems have been developed for broiler chickens to provide immediately feed and water after hatch and reduce the number or severity of early life stressors. Besides beneficial effects of these alternative hatching systems on chick quality and performance, broiler health and welfare may be positively affected as well. Especially offspring from young broiler breeder flocks may benefit, as they have been shown to be more sensitive to preturbations than offspring from older breeder flocks. This study evaluated effects of hatching systems on chick quality, health and welfare of young breeder flock offspring, using 3 different hatching systems: conventional hatchery-hatched (HH), hatchery-fed (HF), and on-farm hatching (OH). A total of 24 pens were used in a completely randomized block design, with 8 pens per hatching system and 30 chickens per pen. Chick quality at hatch and performance until 35 d of age was improved in the HF and OH compared to HH treatment, but only minor effects were found on the welfare indicators: footpad dermatitis, hock burn, cleanliness, skin lesion and gait score. No effect was observed on the dynamics of a humoral immune response after NCD vaccination, given at d 0 and 14 of age, as no differences between NCD titers were found at d 18. Animals were vaccinated with a live attenuated infectious bronchitis vaccine virus (IBV) at d 28 to address treatment related differences to disease resilience. The expressions of inflammation and epithelial integrity related genes in the trachea and histo-pathological changes in the trachea were examined at 3 d after vaccine administration. No differences between treatment groups were observed. Although beneficial effects of HF and OH systems were found for young breeder flock offspring on chick quality at hatch and body weight posthatch, only one effect of alternative hatching systems on welfare and health indicators were found. No effect of hatching system on humoral immune response or disease resilience was found.
替代孵化系统已经被开发出来用于肉鸡,以在孵化后立即提供饲料和水,并减少早期生活应激源的数量或严重程度。除了这些替代孵化系统对雏鸡质量和性能的有益影响外,肉鸡的健康和福利也可能受到积极影响。特别是来自年轻肉鸡种鸡群的后代可能受益,因为它们比来自年老种鸡群的后代更容易受到干扰。本研究使用 3 种不同的孵化系统:常规孵化场孵化(HH)、孵化场饲养(HF)和农场孵化(OH),评估了孵化系统对年轻种鸡群后代雏鸡质量、健康和福利的影响。采用完全随机区组设计,每个孵化系统设 8 个区组,每个区组 30 只鸡。与 HH 处理相比,HF 和 OH 处理提高了孵化时的雏鸡质量和 35 日龄时的性能,但对福利指标(脚垫皮炎、跗关节烧伤、清洁度、皮肤损伤和步态评分)的影响较小。在 NCD 疫苗(在 0 日龄和 14 日龄接种)接种后的体液免疫反应动态方面没有观察到影响,因为在 18 日龄时没有发现 NCD 滴度的差异。在 28 日龄时,用活减毒传染性支气管炎病毒(IBV)对动物进行疫苗接种,以解决与疾病抵抗力相关的治疗差异。在疫苗接种后 3 天,检查了气管中的炎症和上皮完整性相关基因的表达以及气管的组织病理学变化。未观察到处理组之间的差异。尽管 HF 和 OH 系统对年轻种鸡群后代在孵化时的雏鸡质量和孵化后的体重有有益的影响,但只发现了替代孵化系统对福利和健康指标的一个影响。未发现孵化系统对体液免疫反应或疾病抵抗力有影响。